So from this I've learned that no matter how comfortable I get with a contractor, I need to constantly be bidding out jobs (admittedly I was getting lazy on this part) and constantly on the worksite monitoring quality. 

More and more I've been reading showing instructions as well that "No blind offers will be accepted, seller won't play the bid high then drop after inspection game".

Bid $1 and won a property.  

I have them coming out in a week to assess/bid... still looking for other contractors for foundations if anyone knows of any

So a deal once found attractive based on which I bid is turning out not to be so attractive.

Maybe the questions is 'How can I bid at an auction that is cash only if I don't have the cash?'  

Does the contractor bid the job for you based on your scope of work?

All you have to do is go there and look at previous bid results.

The condo association's attorney sent a certified letter demanding payment of what they paid for the wining bid when they did the foreclosure for the condo assessments. 

Builders like lower paint bids.